Accessory of

the Month

Partners

Preconception

The Top Things to Avoid when Trying to Conceive

You and your partner have decided
the time has come to have a baby. What an exciting time! It’s easy to get ahead of yourself, thinking
about what to buy and who, out of the two of you, your little one will look
like. But before you start decorating
the nursery and purchasing baby clothes, there are some things you should be
thinking about first.

If you are planning a
pregnancy you have the opportunity to be on top of your health as well as the
health of your unborn child ahead of time. Here are the top things to avoid
when trying to conceive:

Smoking

This is a great time to
finally quit this nasty habit. Smoking while pregnant has been proven to lead
to premature birth, low birth weight and even stillbirth. The same can be said for doing illegal drugs
such as smoking marijuana. Marijuana and tobacco can both have a negative
effect a woman’s fertility and on a man’s sperm count and quality.

Alcohol

Both future Moms and Dads
should avoid drinking alcohol while trying to conceive. For the mom-to-be, the
consumption of alcohol while pregnant can lead to fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS), which can lead to
physical and mental defects. Alcohol can
also halt your ability to conceive and has the potential to cause miscarriage,
spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and impaired fetal growth. In men, alcohol can
interfere with sperm development by raising estrogen levels and affecting liver
function.

Caffeine

While experts agree that low
to moderate caffeine consumption (300mg a day or three cups of coffee)
shouldn’t affect your fertility, it is still wise to cut down on your usual cup
of joe as the research still isn’t conclusive.

Hot tubs and saunas

Men should especially avoid
sitting in hot tubs and saunas when trying to conceive. The reason for this is
because testicles are especially sensitive to heat and need a cooler
environment to produce healthy sperm.
For women hot tubs and saunas aren’t necessarily a concern while trying
to conceive but the heat in early pregnancy can have negative effects such as
birth defects and miscarriage.

Tight underwear

For men, wearing those “tighty
whities” can have a negative effect on their sperm count. The reason for this
is because wearing tight clothing holds the organs that produce the sperm
closer to the body, in turn increasing their temperature and potentially
decreasing production.

Obvious and Not-so-obvious Toxins

You probably won’t be
surprised to hear that X –rays and household products with strong fumes (like
cleaners and oil-based paints) could affect your fertility and your baby. However, you might be surprised to hear that
your cat’s litter box should be avoided by potential Moms because of the risk
of toxoplasmosis.

Stress

While the research isn’t
conclusive on why stress affects fertility, the power of the mind has been
known to create problems among women who are trying to conceive. If you find
you are stressed or depressed, this is the best time to improve yourself mentally.
Try such stress reducing techniques as meditation or yoga, or seek the
assistance of a professional.

Getting pregnant doesn’t
always come as easily as you may want it to.
Many people don’t conceive on their first try but while you are trying
it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get your body ready for your
future child.